Stereoscopic camera



D 30,1941. HQSAUER 2,267,952

s'rERE'oscoPIc CAMERA Filed Feb. 24, v1939 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 STEBEOSCOPIC CAMERA Hans Sauer, Dresden, Germany, assignor to Zeiss Ikon Aktiengesellschaft, Dresden, Germany Application February 24, 1939, Serial No. 258,297 In Germany February 25, 1938 2 Claims. (Cl. 88v-16.6)

This invention relates to improvements inA stereoscopic cameras.

The use of extension lenses, as for instance socalled portrait attachments is well known, with still cameras as well as with motion picture apparatus. These extensions, particularly suitable for taking pictures of objects close to the camera, are ordinarily applied to the lens of the camera. in front thereof. Similarly also .in producing stereoscopic pictures of close objects, lens extensions are employed, one for each lens of the ster- 4eoscopic camera.

In utilizing these lens extensions, it is then in stereoscopic cameras also necessary to modify the plane of convergence. y

The present invention has the object of meeting the requirement of relocating the plane of convergence ,for stereoscopic cameras whenever these lens attachments are used. f

It is also an object of the invention to provide extension lenses in combination with deflecting velements adapted to produce the required convergence.

. It is alsoA an object of the invention to provide an attachment for the objectives of a stereoscopic camera adapted to modify the focal length, as called for in making exposures of close objects, and at the -same time to change the convergency of the objective as demanded by the closeness ofthe object. A

- A speciiic object of the 'invention is, furthermore, to attain the desired variation of the focal Ilength and of the plane of convergence by means of a single lens of a diameter large enough' to be positioned in front of both stereoscopic objectives of the camera. This lens notfonly alters the focal length of the lens combination from that of the stereoscopic objectives, but it also modies the plane of convergence, since it acts Aas a deecting element for the "light passing there .c of eiecting the shiftingA of the also has the object vergence in accordance with the distance of the object'from the camera by altering the distance between the stereoscopic objectives of the camera, that is the base of the stereoscopic equipment. Upon variation of this base the deecting keffect of the single extension lens onthe light rays passing through the stereoscopic oblectives of the camera also must necessarily vary. This alteration of the stereoscopic base may be obtained for instance by slidably mounting the objectives on the lens board and sliding them away from or toward each other.

The invention also has the object of varying the location of the plane of convergence from the plane determined by the focal plane of the single extension lens without sliding the camera objectives relatively to the extension lens.

The invention, therefore, also has the object of effecting a variation in the distance of the plane of convergence by means of additional deilecting elements for the extension lens or lenses, in which case the base of the stereoscopic equipment may be left unaltered.

With these and many other objects in view. the

invention is described in the following speciiication in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l shows diagrammatically a pair of compound lenses for a stereoscopic camera with lens extensions.

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a single for a pair of lens extensions.

Figs. 3 and 4 show diagrammatically stereoscopic lens arrangements with single extension lenses.

In the embodiment diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, the lens equipment of a stereoscopic camera comprises the compound lenses i mount and 2 adapted to produce stereoscopic pictures on the carrier (not shown) of the sensitized emulsion, as indicated at 3 and l. Extensions each comprising a lens and a deecting element are adapted to be positioned in front of the compound lenses i and 2, respectively. The extension lens 5 and deflectlng prism 6 are associated with the compound lens I, while the extension plane oi' conn 55 lens 'I and deflecting element l are Iassociated with the compound lens 2.

It is advisable to support the lens extensions and the pertaining deflecting elements, the latter in the form of prismatic wedges, in a common mount and to equip the common mount for these two elements with means tor readily attaching matically illustrated in Fig. 2. The optical eqliipmentr adapted to be positioned on the casing (not shown) of a still camera or motion picture camera comprises amount iI containing stereoscopic compound lenses 9 and I 0. It' has at one end means for detachably securing it to the lens board, as for instance, the flanges III, H2 of which at least one may be a bayonet lock iiange. lhe tubular portion IIJ2 of the mount II contains the compound lenses 9 and I0 at the required base spacing toV produce stereoscopic ictures in the plane of the carrier of the emulion (not shown).

An extension mount I2 supports therein the V:xtensions 5, 6 and l, 8 correspondingly spaced. ll'hey include each an extension lens and a prisnatic deiiecting element associated therewith.

Aihis mount may be detachably secured on they removable stereoscopic mount' II by meansof a flange IM engaging a holding element I3 on the stereoscopic mount, as by a bayonet lock or thelike.

Figi 3 -diagrammatically illustrates a stereoscopic equipment of a camera having two objectives Il and I5. An extension lens I 6 permitting the photographing of objects close to the camera is of a suillciently great diameter to be removablyv positioned forward of both of the lenses Hand I5. Rays of light indicated at I8, I9 and emanating from focus Il of the extension lens I 6 are deflected by said extension j lens into the axes of the stereo-lenses I4, I5 and towards the emulsionareas indicated at 20 and 2|. These rays will then strike the central portions of the picture areas 20 and 2| which are in j that relation fto each other that is required for the production of stereoscopic pictures. The point of convergence here coinciding with the focus I1 of the extension len`s also lies in the -plane 'of maximum sharpness of the system, provided the lenses Il, I5 are set for innite distance.

The embodiment'illustrated in Fig. 4 diagraml Vmatically shows means for effecting the variation of the plane ofconvergence'by combining an extension lensv with wedge-shaped deflectingelements. The camera lenses Il, I5 permanently associated with the camera may have a ilxed base, and are adapted to produce stereoscopic pictures of an object within the areas 20, ZI of the emulsion carrier .(not` shown). The extension lens I6 removably positioned forward of both camera lenses I4, I5 in the manner indicated in- 3 to act as alight denecting dement is additionally equipped with removable and exchangeable deflecting' elements 22, 23 which owing to their prismatic shape produce an additional deilection and hence a reduction of the distance ofvzthe plane of convergence from the ycamera tical system.

` aaaaeaa lobjectives a plurality of different-readily attachable means for reducing the distance between. the objectives and the plane of convergence, thereby bringing the plane of maximum sharpness closer to the camera. it will also be seen that these means are readily adjustable to modify the 1ocation of this plane of convergence.

I claim:

-l. The combination with the optical system of a stereoscopic camera, which optical system comprises two similar photographic objectives arranged with their axes spaced from each other and relatively to a sight axis to produce separate pictures having stereoscopic relation, of optical ray defiecting means detachably mounted in front of said optical system for producing stereoscopic pictures from objects which are spaced from the optical system a distance less than the minimum distance which normally is required when said two photographic objectives are used alone to produce sharply focused stereoscopic pictures, 'said optical ray deiiecting means comprising a simple collective lens of a diameter sulciently large to cover both said photographic objectives and two optical wedges spaced from said collective lens and facing the object tobe photographed,.each wedge covering one half of said collective lens, one ofA said wedges being i alinement with `thel other objective when said ray deecting means is mounted in front of said o 2. The combination with theoptlcal system of a stereoscopiccamera; which optical system includes Within a singlemount two similar photographic v objectives arranged with their axesspaced from each other and relatively to a sight axis to produce separate pictures having-stereoscopic relation, of optical ray deecting means in another mount provided with means i'or detachably securing the same to the mount of said optical system so that said optical ray deflecting means is positioned in front of said two photographic objectives, said optical ray defiecting means permitting the production of stereoscopic pictures from objects which are spaced from the optical system a distance less than the distance which is normally required, when said two photographic objectives lare used alone, to produce sharply focused stereoscopic pictures, said optical ray defiecting means comprisinga simple collective lens of a diameter sulciently large to cover both said photographic objectives and two opticalwedges spaced from said collective lens and facing the. object to be photographed, each wedge covering one half of said collective lens, one of said wedges being mounted in axial alinement with one of said objectives and the other wedge -being in axial alinement withthe other objective when said vray deflecting means is mounted in front of said optical system.

, HANS SAUER. 

